When considering owning a guinea pig it is essential that everything relating to the care of guinea pigs is thought through.

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The first thing to think about is where your guinea pig is going to live and how much space it will take up! Also it is not good to keep a guinea pig on its own, they are best kept in pairs or more. Boars can be kept together if they have grown up together or one is alot younger than the other, however their relationship is likely to be rocky so keep a close eye, keep sows well away!So two guinea pigs should have a minimum of 15x24 inches of floor space, with at least 12 inches of height. The floor should never be wire mesh, this can break their little legs and can also lead to their death. If your pigs are going to kept outside then you should have a hutch that is at least 30 inches from the ground to prevent unwanted visitors and also to keep the base of the hutch dry. Also the hutch should not be in a position where the sun shines on it all day. In the winter the hutch will need covering at night as guinea pigs cannot tolerate temperatures freezing or below. The hutch should be free from draughts and damp. The best place to keep the hutch in the winter if you do not want them inside is your shed!

Feeding and Watering

Guinea Pigs need fresh fruit and vegetables with high levels of vitamin C regularly. Vitamin C is a vital ingredient in the diet of a Guinea Pig. If they do not have enough vitamin C many health problems will occur, one very obvious sign of a lack of Vitamin C is flaky skin and a poor coat.

Hay needs to be in constant supply, guinea pigs eat loads of this and it is good for them!!

Some dry guinea pig foods are supplemented with a good variety of the vitamins and minerals needed to keep your guinea pig healthy.

What you may find when you go to check your guinea pigs food is that they only seem to eat the bits they like. They may have left all the grainy bits and eaten all the nice fat chunky bits. It is important for your guinea pig to have all the food otherwise they will not get the nutrition they need. One way to ensure this is to not to feed your guinea pig dry food and fresh food at the same time. Dry food in the morning and fresh food in the evening

You will find that one pig may eat alot more than another. As long as your pig is eating do not worry about this. If your pig stops eating take them to a vet or caviologist (guinea pig specialist) immediately.

Water should be dispensed from a small animal bottle. When you attach your bottle to the mesh don't put it on vertically put it on at an angle, this helps the pigs drink and the bottle not to leak.